Police Station Redux

Some things just won't die no matter how often you shoot them. **** The townspeople who seem to have "edifice complex" are once again trying to put a new police station on the agenda for the May town meeting. Their rationale: The townspeople didn't understand the issue when they voted it down last November. (This is a typical elitist attitude. When a democratic vote goes against them, they attribute it to the voters' stupidity and conclude that those ignorant voters don't know what they're doing and we proponents are smarter than they are and must convince them that we're right.) **** As I've said many times, what the police building advocates ought to be doing, especially in light of the voters always having told them they don't want a new police station, is to analyze the police department's real needs - not "wouldn't it be nice" needs - and then strive to meet those needs by reallocating space at town hall, including whatever construction work might be necessary, to do it. There's plenty of space for that solution. For example, do the planning board and the conservation commission each need their own room at town hall? **** Grandiosity is often favored by those who don't mind paying more taxes. The pain they cause for those not so blessed is overlooked.